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Expert:

There are many reasons for hair shedding -- diet, environment or the products that you’re using. To see what could be causing yours, watch this video.

Transcript: Are you losing a lot of hair in the shower drain or on your hairbrush? The shedding might be unsettling,...

Are you losing a lot of hair in the shower drain or on your hairbrush? The shedding might be unsettling, but most times, that loss is COMPLETELY normal. The average human head has 100,000 strands of hair. Of those, about 10,000 are in a resting phase at any given time. Every DAY, about 50 to 100 of them will detach, only to be replaced by hairs growing behind them. You notice the hair loss MORE in the shower or on your brush because the act of massaging or combing your scalp gives those resting follicles a little KICK, making the hair fall OUT instead of it happening naturally. Your hair will gradually thin as you age, but shedding does not always lead to hair loss or baldness unless you shed more than you grow. If you're seeing visibly thinning hair or balding patches, talk to a doctor to get advice. There are several possible causes for your hair loss. Telogen effluvium is temporary hair loss caused by physical or emotional stressors. Your hair will suddenly start falling out about 3 months after your follicles abruptly shift from a growing stage to the RESTING-or telogen-stage. The physical causes can range widely-- MANY types of medications, weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, and several diseases are the main triggers. Sometimes, traumatic emotional events such as a bad breakup, a loved one's death or a divorce can also cause telogen effluvium. Your hair will grow back when the stressor is removed. Hair STYLES can sometimes contribute to hair loss. If you often style your hair into tightly pulled 'dos, TRACTION ALOPECIA MAY be the reason behind your thinning strands. Tone DOWN the styling BEFORE doing permanent damage to your hair follicles. About 2 percent of people might get a kind of hair loss called ALOPECIA AREATA. Flare-ups are often temporary, but this is a life long condition.. This is an autoimmune disease where the white blood cells attack hair follicles. It's often recognizable by its circular bald patches. The MOST COMMON type of hair loss is male AND FEMALE pattern hair loss. It's more gradual, and unlike the conditions I've described so far, it's permanent. With each growth cycle, hair follicles gradually shrink down and become unable to grow normal sized hair. Men will see this hair loss as a receding hairline and baldness at the crown, while women will usually have thinner hair in the front, sides or crown. Even though daily shedding IS totally normal, if you notice your hair getting progressively thinner, it's worth talking about options with your doctor. Watch other videos in this series for more in-depth information about hair loss causes!